BACKGROUND:

Caregivers often initiate the help-seeking process when their loved one begins experiencing early psychosis. During this help-seeking phase, caregivers often struggle to identify and access appropriate services. This leads to a longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) for their loved one, resulting in poorer outcomes and recovery. The use of mobile health intervention may reduce these barriers, along with DUP, and aid caregivers in treatment facilitation.

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OBJECTIVE:

This study proposes to develop and evaluate a caregiver mobile health intervention, an app named Bolster, to reduce DUP and increase access of services. The development of Bolster will seek feedback via qualitative interviews from caregivers who are currently connected to services in addition to those who have yet to be connected with services. These insights will inform the mobile health intervention to understand barriers experienced by caregivers, interests and preferences for the mobile intervention. This feedback will then be utilized to develop and refine the mobile health intervention to serve caregivers in help-seeking for their loved ones experiencing early psychosis. 

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